Onehundredandfour Young Ambassadors and 197 Chefs de Mission representing the 204 NOCs taking part in the Games joined the IOC Coordination Commission this week in Nanjing for a final updating on the 2nd Youth Olympic Games (YOG) taking place this summer.
“With 137 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the Nanjing Organising Committee gave an impressive overview to the NOC and IOC visitors of their final preparations and world-class sports facilities – all of which are close to completion,” says an IOC press release , with Alexander Popov, IOC member and Chairman of the Coordination Commission stating: “There is a real buzz here in Nanjing that the Youth Olympic Games are coming soon. The team here is so passionate about creating the ultimate experience not only for the athletes, but also for young people from across China and overseas. The local organising committee and Chinese Olympic Committee have done an excellent job and we congratulate them on their progress so far.”
In line with the IOC’s YOG vision to use existing venues, many of Nanjing’s sports facilities are already in place and were tested during the Asian Youth Games last summer. The newly constructed Youth Olympic Village (YOV), which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the visiting athletes and officials, will form a key part of the Nanjing legacy as affordable housing after the Games have concluded. Said Yang Weize, Executive President of NYOGOC, said: “With the guidance and support of the IOC, I strongly believe Nanjing will host a splendid and memorable Youth Olympic Games, bringing happiness and fantastic experiences to young people around the world.”
This article was republished with permission from Karl Heinz-Huba, the editor and publisher of The Sport Intern.